Statement from NAWC on the Launch of The White House Water Cybersecurity Pilot

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) President and CEO Robert F. Powelson released the following statement regarding the White House's launch of Project Watershed 250, a six-month water sector cybersecurity pilot initiative in Texas involving the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Texas Cyber Command, and private industry leaders:

"The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) commends the White House, Texas state leadership, and federal partner agencies for launching Project Watershed 250 to strengthen the cybersecurity posture of America's water systems.

"Regulated, private water operators have invested heavily in robust security architectures, continuous monitoring, and advanced threat-mitigation protocols. We strongly welcome initiatives like Project Watershed 250 that bring high-level technical expertise, private-sector innovation, and artificial intelligence tools directly to local providers.

"Safe, reliable water service is fundamental to public health, economic stability, and national security. Cyber threats targeting water infrastructure are growing in both frequency and sophistication, underscoring the urgency of proactively identifying and remediating vulnerabilities across the sector.

"NAWC and its member companies have long advocated for comprehensive, mandatory cybersecurity standards and proactive risk-management plans across the entire water sector without exception to ownership. A cyberattack on any water system poses a threat to public trust and critical infrastructure.

"NAWC remains committed to partnering with federal, state, and local leaders to ensure that the insights gained from this pilot translate into sustainable, enforceable, sector-wide cybersecurity accountability nationwide."